Window-sash tightener for vehicle-tops



D. R. JENKINS.

wmnow SASH TIGHTENER FOR VEHICLE TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-4| I920.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

WITNESS magi A TTORNE Y5 NEE DAVID R. JENKINS, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

WINDOVJ-SASH TIGHTENER FOB VEHICLE-TOPS.

naoneoe.

Applicationfiled August 4;, 1820. Serial No. 401,091.

and is particularly adapted for the sashes of vehicle tops, although it may be applied to any other form of sliding window.

In vehicle tops having horizontally sliding window sashes, the sashes must be loose enough in their guides to slide freely and easily. rlowever, when so fitted, such sashes have a tendency to rattle, especially when slightly worn, on account ofthe violent and constant jarring to which they are subjected, and moreover, when the vehicle is ascending or descending a steep grade, or when it starts or stops suddenly, the freely moving windows are very often shifted by the effect of their own weight and inertia.

The object of my present invention,therefore, is to provide means for automatically tightening such a window at either end of its travel, without interfering with its free movement between such positions, and 1 ac complish this by the use ofsimple and inexpensive devices which do not appreciably increase the weight of the window nor detract from its appearance.

With this in view, invention will now be described with reference to the accom panying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle top having sliding window sashes of a type for WhlChillj device is well adapted.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, enlarged, showing portions of a window sash audits guide equipped with my device.

Fig. 3' is a section taken in the direction of the arrows on the'line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and enlarged.

In Fig. l l have illustrated a well known type of vehicle top, indicated by the reference numeral 1, which is equipped inthe usual manner with sliding side windowsashes 2 and 3 adapted to open by sliding rearwardly from their closed positions shown, into positions in transverse alinement with a stationary window 4. A portion of the sash 2 is shown in Figs. 2 and 3,

it being understood that the other sash 3 of Fig. l is similar. Said sashes are hung from an upper guide member, shown at 5 in Figs. 2 and 3, said guide being inclos'ed within the top 1, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The sash 2, Figs. 2 and 8, is secured to hook-shaped hangers'o, which slide in a lon" gitudinal L-shaped groove or guideway 7 formed in one side of the guide member 5. A similar guide way 8 is formed in the opposite side of said member 5 for'receiving the hangers of the other sash 3, not shown in Figs. 2 and 8. It will be seen that, on account of the form of the hangers 6 and the guide way 7, said hangers are at all times securely'retained within said guide way, and the sash 2 is prevented from becoming misplaced with respect to its longitudinal path. The hangers 6 constitute the principal support for said sash.

In order to automatically tighten or lock the sash 2 at the ends of its longitudinal movemenhc. e. ineither. open or closed position, I provide two clamping members or blocks 9 and 9, one positioned near each end of the sash 2,preferably inthe region of the hanger 6, and above and para-lleljwith the upper edge of said sash. Said clamping blocks 9 and 9 are connected with the upper rail of the sashby pairs of parallel pivotally mounted links 10 and 10. respectively." The length of said links is such that when the blocks 9. and 9 are raised into contact with the lower surface of the guide member 5, said links are nearly but not quitevertical, so that the blocks will remain in such position, bearing firmly against said member 5, and securely clamping the sash, and will not be loosened by jarring, The block 9 is shown in this position in Fig. 2. 7

At the ends of the guide member 5, and secured to the lower surface thereof, are fixed stops 11 and 11; These stopsare so positioned with respect to the path of movement of the sash 2, that, when said sash reaches either end of its path, one of the blocks 9 or 9', as the case may be, will abut against the corresponding stop 11 or 11, and will be forced upward thereby intocontact with the underside of the member.5, to clamp the sash.

Releasing lugslQ and 12f are also secured to the under side of the guide member 5, and are spaced from the corresponding stop members 11 and 11' by a distance slightly greater than the length of the blocks 9 and 9. The function of said releasing lugs is to engage the rear ends of the bloclrs 9 and 9 and to force said blocks downwardly away from the guide member 5 to release the sash when the same is moved away from eitier end position. Said lugs 12 and 12 are tapered on their rear or outer faces, to prevent engagement with the blocks 9 ant 9" when the sash is moved toward its locked position, and are thin enough to permit said blocks to pass under them when released.

A pair of friction blocks 13 are preferably carried on the upper rail of the sash 55, s shown in Fig. 2. Said friction bloclrs mounted for vertical movement upon 5 pins 14, and are pressed upwardly by s1 15, and caused to bear against the lower su; face of the guide member 5 with sufi lcien; pressure to prevent chattering of the hangers 6 in the guide-way 7 when the sash 1 being moved or is in a partially open 0 closed position. The outer end portions or said friction blocks are beveled, as shown, to avoid interference with the release lugs 12 and 12.

The friction blocks 13 are so positioned relatively to the clamping blocks 9 and 9 that said clamping blocks are threby prevented from moving far enough to carry their connecting links 19 and 10 over the center, in the event that said bloclrs or the lower surface of the guide member 5 should become so worn as to render such movement possible.

The operation of my device will be readily understood from the foregoin description, When the sash 2 is in the position shown in Fig. 2,.that is, at one limit of its Li avel, the clamping block 9 has been forced up against the under surface of the guide member 5 by its engagement with the stop 11 rd the sash is firmly clamped. 'W hen sal sash is moved toward the right, the clamping block 9 is engaged by the release hi 12, and is moved downward free of the guide member 5 and low enough to pass under said lug 12. The sash can then be mov to the other, or right hand end of whereupon the clamping block 9 the stop ll and is thereby rai ed in s clamping engagement with the guide memher 5, thus clamping the sash in position.

It is to be understood that my invention has been described herein, and is herewith illustrated, in its preferred form, and that changes may be made in the form and construction of the device, within the scope of the claims hereto appended, Without departing in any manner from the spirit of the invention.

end thereol tween the sash and guide; means pivotally connectin said clamping members with the sash adapting them to swing in relatively opposite directions to and from contact with said guide; a pair fixed stops one near each end of the guide, with which the members respectively adapted to contact near the limits of travel of the whereby said members are elevated ping engagement with the guide, a fixed releasinglugs on the guide, each stop and v i h which the members are respectively adapt-ed on the return movement of the sash from its limits, whereby said members arc positively thrown down again and the sash freed, and a block carried by the sash and yieldingly pressed into frictional contact with the guide, said block being adapt ed to prev t lamping members from swing over center.

-, 1 1 2. fl. winoo sash tigntener comprising a hired guide having in its side a longi udinal Eli-shaped groove; correspondingly shaped hangers sec r d to and spacin the sash from 10.6, said hangers being fitted in said ra ion from guide; a pair of independent clamping members associated with the ash, one near each end thereof and lythe space between the and guide; s pivotally connecting said clamping rs with ohe sash ada tingthem to swin in relatively opposite directions to and rroin contact with said guide; a pair of lined stops one near each end of the guide, with which the clamping members are re snectively ad pted contact near the limits or travel of the sash, whereby said members elevated into clamping engagement wit the guide, a pair of fixed releasing lugs on the guide, one near each stop and with which the clamping members are respectively adapted to contact on the return movement of the sash from its limits, where- DAVID R. JENKINS.

floove and confined therein against lateral, 

